J.W. Anderson to reinvent the boring work shirt into 6 new pieces

If you've always thought the only way dress up a boring work shirt is to borrow your boyfriend's and wear it oversized, then get ready to watch a reinvention.

Northern Irish designer J.W. Anderson, who made a name for himself with his knitwear and androgynous designs, is teaming up with online fashion retailer, Net-a-porter, to produce a capsule range centred around the basic work shirt.

Together, they've birthed a six-piece collection that turns the classic wardrobe staple into functional pieces such as a corset, wrap dress and knot skirt. Anderson has chosen to use only crisp white and pin-stripe blue in this collection, keeping in line with the work shirt theme.

"We started working with Jonathan on this capsule nearly a year ago before the trend hit the runway," said Sarah Rutson, vice president of global buying at Net-a-porter. "What they have done here is re-worked and re-envisioned these wardrob classic and made them so highly desirable. They are all special statement pieces that will stand the test of time and remain modern favorites.”

The first Gap Design Editions collection launched in April 2007.

Image: Jemal Countess/WireImage

This is not the first time a designer has collaborated with a fashion retailer to reinvent a wardrobe staple. Back in 2007, as part of a project between Gap, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue Fashion Fund, then-emerging designers Doo. Ri, Rodarte and Thakoon created a nine-piece collection offering new takes on the classic white shirt.

Called Gap Design Editions, the collection sold out online within a day of its launch. It also served as a launching pad for the careers of subsequent designers, such as Phillip Lim and Band of Outsiders, that took part in the second edition of the project.

The J.W. Anderson capsule collection for Net-a-porter will be available globally from Feb. 17.

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